How to Transition to Raw Foods

The secret to optimum weight loss

From the moment I unscrewed the lid on the jar, I knew I was in for a treat. The smell! Unbelievable. I never had that experience before when opening a jar of unrefined coconut oil. This was my first encounter with Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. I stuck my spoon right in.

Yowza! I think I heard the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah as the oil melted in my mouth. "Holy shitaake! What's in this?"

Ingredients: 100% Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (USDA certified organic)

I've had other brands that listed the very same ingredient, so what gives? How come this stuff tastes like "gold"?

After doing some poking around on the company's website, I discovered that all of their coconut oil is made by hand on Mt. Banahaw in the rural Philippines. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world! Coconuts are hand-picked from small family farms, and production begins within 24 hours of harvest.

A couple of years ago, this rural area was having problems with its water sources. Water is needed to make the oil. So, using Filipino ingenuity, they started collecting and using the pure coconut water from inside of the coconuts instead. The fresh coconut meat gets shredded, and then cold-pressed using the coconut water to make coconut milk. The milk is then allowed to sit for about half a day, while the oil naturally separates from the heavier water. The oil then gets filtered from the solid curds.

Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is slightly heated at the end of the processing, prior to packaging. This is to ensure that no moisture is present, and to draw all the oil out of the curds. This heat is very low – less than boiling temperatures – and is for a very short duration (10-15 minutes). No chemical or high-heat treatment is used. Commercial coconut oils, by contrast, undergo steam deodorization at temperatures of around 400 degrees.

Well, I'm sold. This stuff tastes unlike any coconut oil I've had before. Trust me when I tell you, it's delicious as is, eaten right off the spoon. I've also used it in place of olive oil in my Sprouted Hummus, thrown a dollop into my Kiwi Smoothie, and drizzled it along with some fresh lime juice over my Mermaid Pasta With Veggies. Mercy, mercy me. [I should mention that coconut oil will solidify under 76 degrees. Just put the jar in a pan of warm water to reliquefy.]

The couple who started the company in the Philippines, Brian & Marianita Jader Shilhavy, have written a book entitled Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people's lives and how it can change yours! I received a complementary copy and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Not only am I getting loads of ideas from the more than 85 recipes included, but I'm learning all about the health benefits of virgin coconut oil. They've broken the book into sections — like Diabetes, Crohn's, Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism, Weight Loss — and present the research as well as personal healing testimonies. There's even a section on Pet & Animal Nutrition.

Tropical Traditions has a Referral Program, so if you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my sponsor ID number: 5244492. By telling them that I referred you, you'll receive your own complimentary copy of the book!

The Giveaway

The folks at Tropical Traditions have been kind enough to offer one lucky reader of In The Raw, a jar of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. And, I'm not talking about a trial-size jar. This is a whopping quart-size (32 FL. oz.) jar.

So here's the scoop:You have until Midnight Sunday (EDT), July 19th, to enter, at which time Mr. Random Number Generator will choose one winner and I'll announce that fortuitous person here on Monday. All you have to do is visit Tropical Traditions, browse their site and leave a comment below telling me one thing you learned. Simple.

Extra Entries: This is completely optional, but if you'd like to increase your chances of winning, please leave a separate comment for each extra entry (ie. 1 comment = 1 entry)

Subscribe to In The Raw, either by RSS Feed or Email (you must verify your subscription)

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet the giveaway with a link to this post (please leave your Twitter ID in the comment)

Mention this giveaway on your blog and link back to this post (please leave the link in your comment)

From the moment I unscrewed the lid on the jar, I knew I was in for a treat. The smell! Unbelievable. I never had that experience before when opening a jar of unrefined coconut oil. This was my first encounter with Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. I stuck my spoon right in.

Yowza! I think I heard the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah as the oil melted in my mouth. "Holy shitaake! What's in this?"

Ingredients: 100% Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (USDA certified organic)

I've had other brands that listed the very same ingredient, so what gives? How come this stuff tastes like "gold"?

After doing some poking around on the company's website, I discovered that all of their coconut oil is made by hand on Mt. Banahaw in the rural Philippines. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world! Coconuts are hand-picked from small family farms, and production begins within 24 hours of harvest.

A couple of years ago, this rural area was having problems with its water sources. Water is needed to make the oil. So, using Filipino ingenuity, they started collecting and using the pure coconut water from inside of the coconuts instead. The fresh coconut meat gets shredded, and then cold-pressed using the coconut water to make coconut milk. The milk is then allowed to sit for about half a day, while the oil naturally separates from the heavier water. The oil then gets filtered from the solid curds.

Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is slightly heated at the end of the processing, prior to packaging. This is to ensure that no moisture is present, and to draw all the oil out of the curds. This heat is very low – less than boiling temperatures – and is for a very short duration (10-15 minutes). No chemical or high-heat treatment is used. Commercial coconut oils, by contrast, undergo steam deodorization at temperatures of around 400 degrees.

Well, I'm sold. This stuff tastes unlike any coconut oil I've had before. Trust me when I tell you, it's delicious as is, eaten right off the spoon. I've also used it in place of olive oil in my Sprouted Hummus, thrown a dollop into my Kiwi Smoothie, and drizzled it along with some fresh lime juice over my Mermaid Pasta With Veggies. Mercy, mercy me. [I should mention that coconut oil will solidify under 76 degrees. Just put the jar in a pan of warm water to reliquefy.]

The couple who started the company in the Philippines, Brian & Marianita Jader Shilhavy, have written a book entitled Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people's lives and how it can change yours! I received a complementary copy and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Not only am I getting loads of ideas from the more than 85 recipes included, but I'm learning all about the health benefits of virgin coconut oil. They've broken the book into sections — like Diabetes, Crohn's, Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism, Weight Loss — and present the research as well as personal healing testimonies. There's even a section on Pet & Animal Nutrition.

Tropical Traditions has a Referral Program, so if you place an order with them as a first-time customer, please select “Referred by a friend” and in the box that says “How did you hear of us?” enter my sponsor ID number: 5244492. By telling them that I referred you, you'll receive your own complimentary copy of the book!

The Giveaway

The folks at Tropical Traditions have been kind enough to offer one lucky reader of In The Raw, a jar of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. And, I'm not talking about a trial-size jar. This is a whopping quart-size (32 FL. oz.) jar.

So here's the scoop:You have until Midnight Sunday (EDT), July 19th, to enter, at which time Mr. Random Number Generator will choose one winner and I'll announce that fortuitous person here on Monday. All you have to do is visit Tropical Traditions, browse their site and leave a comment below telling me one thing you learned. Simple.

Extra Entries: This is completely optional, but if you'd like to increase your chances of winning, please leave a separate comment for each extra entry (ie. 1 comment = 1 entry)

Subscribe to In The Raw, either by RSS Feed or Email (you must verify your subscription)

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet the giveaway with a link to this post (please leave your Twitter ID in the comment)

Mention this giveaway on your blog and link back to this post (please leave the link in your comment)

A Good Place To Begin

Looking For Something?

Sharing Is Caring

SHOP TILL YOU DROP

About

After feeling sick and tired of, well, feeling sick and tired all the time, I decided to try another route. This is the incredibly true (mis)adventures of one gal's transition into the land of raw foods. Funny thing...when you eat fresh food from the earth, you begin to feel more alive. Hmmm.

Be A Smart Shopper

Find a Farmers Market

PLEASE NOTE: This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a medical doctor nor a trained nutritionist — in fact, I don't even play one on TV. This website is not intended to be used as medical advice. Always check with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet or exercise program.

DISCLOSURE: You should assume that I am an affiliate for providers of goods and services mentioned on this website. I may be compensated when you purchase after clicking on a link.